Input Stories

This week, the Environmental Protection Agency issued new guidance clarifying the agency’s review process of Clean Air Act title V permits—a step that will help streamline the permitting process.

What it does: “The guidance clarifies that state, local and Tribal permitting authorities may submit conduct public comment periods concurrently with EPA’s review. This preserves public participation and is particularly effective when the permitting authority does not anticipate adverse comment on the draft permit,” the agency said.

• “The guidance also affirms that the CAA does not require a full 45-day review by EPA. Therefore, EPA is encouraging its regional offices to expedite their review of proposed permits where appropriate and upon request from EPA’s permitting partners.”

Manufacturers respond: NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons said, “Manufacturers consistently  cite Clean Air Act permits as among the most burdensome and unpredictable approval processes they face. With this action, the EPA is taking an important step toward modernizing and streamlining a permitting system that too often delays investment and growth, while maintaining environmental protections.”

• “For too many projects, our permitting system has delayed routine investments with duplicative reviews and unnecessary uncertainty. This new guidance will help ensure EPA and state permit reviews move forward efficiently while preserving opportunities for public input and maintaining appropriate emissions controls. That means manufacturers can move more quickly to break ground on new projects, invest in new technologies and strengthen the energy and industrial infrastructure American communities rely on.”
• “The EPA continues to act with urgency to modernize a broken permitting process costing manufacturers at least $7.9 billion every year.